(a) It is in the interest of STATE and will support long-term economic development, educational opportunities, and improved emergency services, health and quality of life, to better ensure all geographic areas of STATE have access to high-quality, high-speed internet.

(b) Accordingly, there is hereby established the Internet Access Expansion Investment Fund (“the Fund”) to to expand and improve internet access in underserved parts of the state. The Fund is subject to appropriations by the legislature, and can also apply for and receive grant funds for which states or localities are eligible to apply. When applying for funds on behalf of a locality, any monies received shall be held by the Fund and administered on the locality’s behalf.
-(1) The Internet Access Expansion Investment Fund shall support projects to (i) expand internet access to parts of the state that do not currently have access to speeds of at least 10 megabits per second download speed and one megabit per second of upload speed to achieve service that meets that threshold; and (ii) increase internet speeds to a minimum of 25 megabits per second of download speed and three megabits per second of upload speed for parts of the state that do not yet have access to those speeds.
-(2) The Fund shall give priority to projects that leverage state or local ownership of broadband infrastructure, with at least 50% of funded projects annually meeting that criteria. Projects shall also be prioritized that advance these objectives:
–(i) Serve areas with demonstrated local project support, including from local government;
–(ii) Increase internet access and/or speeds for hospitals, educational institutions, libraries, or government offices;
–(iii) Demonstrate technical capacity to achieve project goals on a proposed timetable, and preferably within five years.
–(iv) Achieve cost-efficiency by providing the most service improvements for the least cost, including through leveraging funding sources in addition to the Fund;
-(3) DEPARTMENT shall promulgate rules and an application program for the Fund within 180 days of passage of this legislation, including to promulgate rules for the service that shall be provided on lines and other infrastructure built or expanded through Fund programs. DEPARTMENT shall provide technical assistance to project applicants to plan, prepare and submit applications.
-(4) DEPARTMENT shall report annually on the Fund and progress toward increased access to and speed of internet access throughout STATE.

(c) Electric cooperatives and utilities, including municipal utilities, in STATE are hereby permitted to own, lease, construct, maintain and operate broadband or other internet access systems on the electric cooperative or utility’s electric or other utility delivery system(s) and to provide broadband or other internet access services to the public utilizing the electric cooperative or utility’s electric or other utility delivery system(s). Electric cooperatives and utilities are hereby permitted to submit applications to the Internet Access Expansion Investment Fund.
-(1) DEPARTMENT shall promulgate rules for the service that shall be provided on the broadband or other internet access systems provided on the electric cooperative or utility’s electric or other utility delivery system(s).

(d) If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.